What types of furnace filters are available and what do you recommend?
There are basically five types of furnace filters: Standard disposable, Pleated disposable, electrostatic, by-pass Hepa and electronic.
Standard disposable filters are designed to protect your furnace only; they are not designed to improve the quality of air in the home and are really the very minimum you should have in your furnace. Clean Air Delivery Rate = 12
Pleated disposable filters come in varying widths and are a good choice for those who do not have allergies or asthma as these filters will only remove particles large enough to be viewed with the naked eye. This type of filter is a very good choice for those that want to keep maintenance to a minimum and still get good quality air. Clean Air Delivery Rate = 240
Electrostatic filters are very effective at removing particles but the draw back is that they tend to cause air flow restriction (read air flow and how does it affect a units performance). Electrostatic filters are washable and can be used for many years. Some even come with a lifetime warranty. If you are diligent with your filter maintenance this may be a good option for you, but if you are you are best to stay away from these products. Clean Air Delivery Rate = 300
By-pass Hepa filters are so effective that only a portion of the air can cross the filter and the rest gets circulated through the home until the next pass. This fixes the problem of poor air flow but multiple passes are required to really get the air clean. Clean Air Delivery Rate = 600
Electronic Air Cleaners use electricity to capture particles smaller than the eye can see. Particles are given a positive charge and then pass by a negatively charged collection plate. These opposite charges attract and the particles become stuck to the plate. As the collection plate becomes coated with particulate the effectiveness of the cleaner diminishes so it won’t become plugged and reduce air flow. Electronic Air Cleaners are capable of capturing bacteria, viruses and mold. Honeywell Clean Air Delivery Rate = 660. Trane CleanEffects Clean Air Delivery Rate = 1200.